Beschreibung
Vauxhall PA Cresta – Overdrive/ Magazine Featured
The PA Cresta launched in 1957 mimicked the popular transatlantic fashion for tailfins, wrap-around windows, white wall tyres, wide bench seat and column change taking most of its styling cues from the Buick Special.
The Cresta was the talk of the 1957 London Motor Show and today it is easy to understand why – it simply demands attention and delivers 1950s style in spades, it really does capture the zeitgeist.
We have never found a PA Cresta that met our standards until this local example was offered to Milestones and we could not resist – it is one of Jamie’s all-time favourite cars!
The car was purchased by Mr Martin, the second owner, in 1965 from the Wotton Motor House for the sum of £325 - he part-exchanged his Austin A40 for £215! The car was used sparingly for many years until he gave up driving and the Cresta was put under dust sheets and stored for an extended period.
The car was liberated in 2009 by a PA club member and a full mechanical and bodily recommissioning process commenced. Where required new-old-stock items were sourced and the car was repainted in her original blue/ white colour scheme – the result is stunning and demonstrates a commitment to originality and an eye for detail that we have rarely seen.
There is no corrosion, mechanically she is spot-on, and the original factory interior has a patina to die for.
On the road the car does not disappoint. The huge steering wheel, 3 speed column change, straight six-cylinder engine married to a late 1950’s soundtrack makes for an intoxicating mix – you will just smile.
Normally we compose longer advertisements for our cars but in this instant the Cresta really does speak for herself. We will be sorry when she leaves us.
